Grate for efficiently burning fuel

ABSTRACT

A grate for efficiently burning fuel is disclosed. The grate for efficiently burning fuel includes a plurality of interconnected plate members, at least one stabilizing bar connected to at least two of the plurality of interconnected plate members, a collection plate situated between at least two of the plurality of interconnected plate members and at least one support member connected to at least one of the plurality of interconnected plate members, wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members are joined together on at least one side.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/684,240 entitled “A Grate For Efficiently Burning Fuel,” filed May 23, 2005, which application is hereby incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in the entirety:

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for supporting solid fuel sources and, more particularly, to a grate for efficiently burning fuel.

2. Description of the Background

Historically, fuel burning grates have been designed to maximize the size of fuel to be burned and to minimize manufacturing costs. Various forms of fireplace grates which include some of these general structural and operational features have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,985,165, 3,771,511, 3,987,779, 4,161,168, and 4,215,671.

Today, the use of fireplaces is widespread because of the comfort, heat, and entertainment they provide. The expense of firewood, the inconvenience of chopping one's own wood, and retrieving wood when the fire burns down too quickly are some drawbacks of wood burning fireplaces. Further, when burning wood, the combustion of the wood is often incomplete and large pieces of unburned wood fall below the grate and remain unburned.

Fireplace grate designs employed historically fail to provide safety features and efficiency characteristics. Overlooking such design features and benefits evidences a disadvantage in that older fireplace designs can not meet today's standards regarding fuel efficiency, as demanded by the ever increasing cost of non-renewable fuels, and regulations related to fireplace safety.

Therefore, the need exists for a grate that can safely and efficiently burn fuel.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a grate for efficiently burning fuel, comprising a plurality of interconnected plate members, at least one stabilizing bar connected to at least two of the plurality of interconnected plate members, a collection plate situated between at least two of the plurality of interconnected plate members, and at least one support member connected to at least one of said plurality of interconnected plate members wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members are joined together on at least one side.

The present invention solves problems experienced with the prior art because it provides a grate that can safely and efficiently burn fuel. Those and other advantages and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of the grate; and

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the grate in a firebox.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in typical fuel burning grates. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable and/or required in order to implement the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.

FIG. 1 is an isometric diagram illustrating a grate for efficiently burning fuel. The grate includes a plurality of interconnected plate members 20, at least one stabilizing bar 30 connected to at least two said plurality of interconnected plate members 20, a collection plate 50 situated between at least two of the plurality of interconnected plate members 20, at least one guide 25 connected to at least one side of at least one of said plurality of interconnected plate members 20 and at least one support member 40 connected to at least one of the plurality of interconnected plate members.

An interconnected plate member 20 is a planar member generally having a greater width than height, and may be constructed from a single continuous piece of material or individual pieces of material, for example, as is known in the art. Interconnected plate member 20 may be, but is not limited to, a planar sheet of punched cast iron. Interconnected plate member 20 may also, by way of non-limiting example, include punched holes in the shape of a circle, triangle, or other linearly sided shape. The interconnected plate members 20 may be useful in conducting heat and allowing for increased and efficient airflow to the fuel. By way of non-limiting only, when burning wood fuel, punched pentagonal holes in the interconnected plate members 20 allow for increased airflow, increased burning efficiency and are less likely to be clogged by the fuel as would, for example, smaller circular holes.

The grate 10 may include two or more interconnected plate members 20, preferably three interconnected plate members 20. The angle between each interconnected plate member 20 should not be less than about 15 degrees and not more than about 120. Preferably, the angle between two interconnected plate members should be about 90 degrees while the sum of angles between three interconnected plate members should be about 135 degrees. The at least one interconnected plate members 20 are suspending from the ground by way of at least one support member 40 and may be bordered on the edges by at least one guard 25.

The at least one support member 40 may be, but is not limited to, a linear rod and may be attached to at least one interconnected plate member 20 perpendicular to the surface upon which the grate 10 is placed. The at least one support member may be connected by weld or mechanical fastener, for example, or by other means known in the art. The at least one support member 40 may also include a foot or other suitable flange to provide support and stability to the grate 10. By way of non-limiting example only, a grate 10 may include four support members 40 connected to at least two interconnected plates 20 at about the terminal corner of each interconnected plate 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

At least one stabilizing bar 30 connects at least two of the plurality of interconnected plate members 20. The stabilizing bar 30 may be connected by weld or mechanical fastener, for example, or by other means known in the art. The at least one stabilizing bar 30 may be, but is not limited to, a linear rod and may be diametrically apposed across the long axis formed by the intersection of at least two of the plurality of interconnected plate members 20 to suitably support generally horizontal forces placed on the plate members 20.

A collection plate 50 may be situated at the nadir between at least two of said plurality of interconnected plate members 20 and generally conforms to the angle created between the at least two of said plurality of interconnected plate members 20. The collection plate 50 may be formed from a single rectangular piece of material creased lengthwise, for example, or from two or more pieces of material suitably configured to collect and/or retain combusting fuel. The collection plate 50 is also included to provide a collection and retention area for burning fuel components such that the collected fuel components may, for example, help promote the continued combustion of the remain fuel in the grate 10. By way of non-limiting example only, the collection plate 50 may collect and retain hot embers created when burning wood fuel. The collected and retained hot embers may keep a high heat in close proximity to the wood fuel and assist in the continuous and efficient combustion of the fuel. The collection plate 50 may be, but is not limited to, a solid member.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a grate for efficiently burning fuel. The grate may be placed in a firebox 60, for example, and may be faced with the longer interconnected plate member 20 facing out. By way of non-limiting example only, the grate 10 may include three interconnected plate members 20, wherein the second plate is half the size of the first plate and the third plate is half the size of the second plate, and wherein the angle between the first and second interconnect plates is about 90 degrees and the third interconnected plate is perpendicular to the horizon. The angle of the first and second interconnected plates may be, for example, suitable for allowing fuel placed between the first and second interconnected plates to migrate towards the nadir between the first and second interconnected plates by the force of gravity. The gravity fed migration of fuel allows for the continuous burning of the fuel placed in the grate 10 without tending by the user. The at least one guide 25 may also keep the fuel safely within the bounds of the grate 10.

The grate 10 may be constructed from, by way of non-limiting example, cast iron, steel, aluminum or other high temperature metal. It will be noted that although wood has been referred to as the fuel to be combusted, any fuel that is appropriate for burning in a fireplace would be suitable for use with the grate 10 of the present invention.

The disclosure herein is directed to the variations and modifications of the elements and methods of the invention disclosed that will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure herein. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention, provided those modifications and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof. 

1. A grate for efficiently burning fuel, comprising: a plurality of interconnected plate members; at least one stabilizing bar connected to at least two said plurality of interconnected plate members; a collection plate situated between at least two of said plurality of interconnected plate members; and at least one support member connected to at least one of said plurality of interconnected plate members; wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members are joined together on at least one side.
 2. The grate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members are joined together at a combined angle of more than 90 degrees.
 3. The grate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members are solid.
 4. The grate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members contain a plurality of holes.
 5. The grate of claim 4, wherein the shape of the holes is selected from the group consisting of circles, rectangles, triangles, octagons, squares, trapezoids, and pentagons.
 6. The grate of claim 1, further comprising at least one guard.
 7. A grate for efficiently burning fuel, comprising: a plurality of interconnected plate members; at least one stabilizing bar connected to at least two said plurality of interconnected plate members; and at least one support member connected to at least one of said plurality of interconnected plate members; wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members are joined together on at least one side.
 8. The grate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members are joined together at a combined angle of more than 90 degrees.
 9. The grate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members are solid.
 10. The grate of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnected plate members contain a plurality of holes.
 11. The grate of claim 4, wherein the shape of the holes is selected from the group consisting of circles, rectangles, triangles, octagons, squares, trapezoids, and pentagons.
 12. The grate of claim 1, further comprising at least one guard. 